Good bye, Lenin! and the Conservative Party: How Denial Can Impact Elections

The film “Good bye, Lenin!” explores the theme of denial, as a devoted communist mother wakes up from a coma in the autumn of 1989 to find a world where communism has crumbled and capitalism reigns supreme. Her son Alexander attempts to shield her from this harsh reality by creating fake news bulletins that present an alternate world. Similarly, the Conservative Party in Britain has faced criticism for denying the impact of their losses during the recent local elections. Despite losing the majority of mayoral races and trailing behind Labour in national polls, Rishi Sunak took a victory lap in Teesside, celebrating their only win in the region. This success was crucial for the Conservatives in securing a win in the next general election, but their loss in this region dealt a significant blow to their confidence.